Method and apparatus for transporting store requests between functional units within a processor

Abstract

A method and apparatus for transporting store requests between functional units within a processor is disclosed. A data processing system includes a data dispatching unit, a data receiving unit, a segmented data pipeline coupled between the data dispatching unit and the data receiving unit, and a segmented feedback line coupled between the data dispatching unit and the data receiving unit. Having multiple latches interconnected between segments, the segmented data pipeline systolically transfers data from the data dispatching unit to the data receiving unit. The segmented feedback line has multiple control latches interconnected between segments. Each of the control latches sends a control signal to a respective one of the latches in the segmented instruction pipeline to forward data to a next segment within the segmented data pipeline.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A data processing system, comprising: 
       a data dispatching unit;  
       a data receiving unit;  
       a segmented data pipeline, coupled between said data dispatching unit and said data receiving unit, having a plurality of latches interconnected between segments, for systolically transferring data from said data dispatching unit to said data receiving unit; and  
       a segmented feedback line, coupled between said data dispatching unit and said data receiving unit, having a plurality of control latches interconnected between segments, wherein each of said control latches sends a control signal to a respective one of said latches in said segmented data pipeline to forward data to a next segment within said segmented data pipeline.  
     
     
       2. The data processing system according to  claim 1 , wherein each of said latches within said segmented pipeline also sends a return signal to itself to forward data to a next segment within said segmented data pipeline. 
     
     
       3. The data processing system according to  claim 1 , wherein each of said latches within said segmented pipeline also receives a return signal from a preceding one of said latches in said segmented instruction pipeline to forward data to a next segment within said segmented data pipeline. 
     
     
       4. The data processing system according to  claim 1 , wherein said data dispatching unit is a load/store unit and said data receiving unit is a store queue. 
     
     
       5. A method for dispatching instructions between a data dispatching unit and a data receiving unit within a data processing system, said method comprising the steps of: 
       connecting said data dispatching unit and said data receiving unit with a segmented data pipeline for systolically transferring data from said data dispatching unit to said data receiving unit, wherein said segmented data pipeline has a plurality of latches interconnected between segments; and  
       connecting said data dispatching unit and said data receiving unit with a segmented feedback line, wherein said segmented feedback line has a plurality of control latches interconnected between segments, wherein each of said control latches sends a control signal to a respective one of said latches in said segmented data pipeline to forward data to a next segment within said segmented data pipeline.  
     
     
       6. The method according to  claim 5 , wherein said method further includes a step of sending a return signal from each of said latches within said segmented pipeline to itself to forward data to a next segment within said segmented data pipeline. 
     
     
       7. The method according to  claim 5 , wherein said method further includes a step of receiving a return signal from a preceding one of said latches in said segmented instruction pipeline by each of said latches within said segmented pipeline to forward data to a next segment within said segmented data pipeline. 
     
     
       8. The method according to  claim 5 , wherein said data dispatching unit is a load/store unit and said data receiving unit is a store queue.